Career and Education Opportunities for Paramedics in Miramar, Florida

For those living in the Miramar, Florida area, there are many career and education opportunities for paramedics. About 420 people are currently employed as paramedics in Florida. By 2016, this is expected to grow 25% to 530 people employed. This is better than the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for paramedics are expected to grow by about 10.3%. In general, paramedics drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.

Income for paramedics is about $11 hourly or $23,710 annually on average in Florida. Nationally, their income is about $10 per hour or $22,410 per year. Incomes for paramedics are not quite as good as in the overall category of Public Service in Florida, and not quite as good as the overall Public Service category nationally.

The Miramar area is home to seventy schools of higher education, including three within twenty-five miles of Miramar where you can get a degree as a paramedic. Given that the most common education level for paramedics is a high school diploma or GED, you can expect to spend only a short time studying to be a paramedic if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Paramedic

Paramedic video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, paramedics drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. They also assist in lifting patients.

Paramedics drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick or convalescent persons. They also remove and replace soiled linens and apparatus to maintain sanitary conditions. Equally important, paramedics have to place patients on stretchers and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants. They are often called upon to earn and maintain appropriate certifications. They are expected to remove supplies and disposable items on ambulances. Finally, paramedics accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls.

Every day, paramedics are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings. It is also important that they evaluate problems as they arise.

It is important for paramedics to administer first aid, such as bandaging and administering oxygen. They are often called upon to report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials. They also restrain or shackle violent patients. Somewhat less frequently, paramedics are also expected to restrain or shackle violent patients.

And finally, they sometimes have to drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick or convalescent persons.

Like many other jobs, paramedics must be reliable and have a strong concern for others.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Paramedic Training

City College - Fort Lauderdale, FL

City College, 2000 W. Commerical Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. City College is a small college located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 441 students and an admission rate of 74%. City College has an associate's degree program in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated seventeen students in 2008.

Broward College - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Broward College, 225 E las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Broward College is a large college located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 33,527 students. Broward College has less than one year, one to two year, and associate's degree programs in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated 207, 219, and 109 students respectively in 2008.

McFatter Technical Center - Davie, FL

McFatter Technical Center, 6500 Nova Drive, Davie, FL 33317. McFatter Technical Center is a small school located in Davie, Florida. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 1,039 students. McFatter Technical Center has a less than one year program in Emergency Medical Technology/Technician which graduated seventy-four students in 2008.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Miramar, Florida

Miramar, Florida photo by Nathan Reed

Miramar is located in Broward County, Florida. It has a population of over 108,484, which has grown by 49.1% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Miramar, 117, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in Miramar are priced at $239,500 on average, which is well below the state average. In 2008, one hundred ten new homes were constructed in Miramar, down from one hundred thirty-eight the previous year.

The top three industries for women in Miramar are health care, educational services, and finance and insurance. For men, it is construction, public administration, and administrative and support and waste management services. The average commute to work is about 32 minutes. More than 20.7% of Miramar residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 6.6%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Miramar is 9.7%, which is less than Florida's average of 11.3%.

The percentage of Miramar residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 45.9%, is less than the national average but more than the state average. Pembroke Road Church, Saint Bartholomew Church and Saint Stephens Church are among the churches located in Miramar. The most prominent religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church.

Miramar is home to the Parkway Plaza and the Miramar Country Club as well as Southwest Broward Junior Athletic Association and Calhoun Recreation Complex. Shopping centers in the area include Palmetto By Pass Shopping Center and Miramar Shopping Center.